Hunting Vienna

The Urban Hunt #1

by Iasmina Edina

THREE DAYS. SEVEN IMPOSSIBLE CLUES. ONE ANXIOUS TEEN RACING TO SOLVE THEM ALL.

Dan is an anxious eighteen-year-old who'd rather spend his weekends playing tabletop games with his mom. But when has the Universe ever cared what Dan wanted?

When a friend drags him into a city-wide scavenger hunt, Dan lets his trusted dice decide his fate. The roll throws him headfirst into a whirlwind adventure he's definitely not prepared for. But with a fifty-thousand-euro prize that could pay for his mother’s surgery, it's a risk he needs to take.

From the crypts beneath St. Stephen’s Cathedral, through a freezing maze at Schönbrunn Palace, to the grand ball at the National Opera, Dan and his team chase clues hidden in Vienna's historic landmarks — uncovering the city's mysteries along with each other's secrets. But when Dan faces his worst fears, can he rise to the challenge and win before time runs out?

LET THE HUNT BEGIN.

Packed with witty banter, nerdy references, and unexpected twists, this thrilling coming-of-age adventure explores mental health, self-discovery, and friendship — proving that sometimes the best moments happen when you let go and let the dice roll. Perfect for fans of John Green and Alice Oseman.

Genres: Young Adult

330 pages, Paperback

Published November 2, 2024

About the author

Iasmina Edina was born in Romania and is currently living in Denmark where she works as a frontend web developer and writes Young Adult fiction in her spare time.

When she’s not immersed in writing or coding, she loves reading, playing video games, painting, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and two pets—the latter three of which share names with characters from a popular MOBA game.

Currently, she is working on the second book in a contemporary adventure mystery series (The Urban Hunt), sequel to Hunting Vienna, whilst also working on several other first drafts: a couple contemporary romances, a first in a fantasy series, and a thriller/mystery.

Iasmina enjoys writing in many genres, but for now at least, they’re all under the YA umbrella.

Reviews

[Andrei(Drusca) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pentru că am urmat pașii care au dus la crearea lui, nu am putut să ratez ocazia de a-l citi. Am devorat povestea, mi-a plăcut interacțiunea dintre personaje și referințele la celelalte romane. Mi-a făcut plăcere să văd orașul Viena prinde viață prin paginile romanului. Recomand cu căldură
Because I followed the steps that led to its creation, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read it. I devoured the story, loved the interaction between the characters and the references to the other novels. I enjoyed seeing the city of Vienna come to life through the pages of the novel. I warmly recommend it.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC. The intro to this book had me hooked - how are they so good at D&D with only two people? - and I really did enjoy the concept, but I felt that there were constant hints about there being more going on under the surface that really didn't happen. I don't know what I was expecting, but I guess it was just a bit more than what I got. The writing was good; I just felt that there was something lacking.

[Andreja · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole scavenger hunt was fun. The story was a charming adventure about Dan, Jamie, and Adam trying to solve each individual clue to find the next location. What got me first invested in the book was the relationship between Dan and his mom and I was also looking forward to get to the page where the competition finally begins.

I’m confused by Dan’s lack of motivation and indifference to win the Hunt and pissed he keeps telling us (the readers) how supposedly he really wants and needs to win the money, yet his actions speak otherwise. I was invested in the book but my interest plummeted (went from a 3,5 or 4 stars to 2,5) when he ’did what he did outside the Cathedral’ and how he expected one of the competitors to be just as unwilling to fight for the prize as he was (second to last challenge; outside the opera house). It made sense for him to be less motivated at the beginning because he wasn’t sure it was a real competition but as he and his teammates discovered more clues and locations, it became obvious the Hunt was real (and thus his determination should have been there too).

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vikki Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

pleasant read. the journey dan goes on to grow is nice to read however o felt the scavenger hunt side of things were a bit slow would have preferred it to be more fast paced

[Marion Löw · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Viennese, history and culture enthusiast and mother of teenagers, I simply had to read this book from a new to me author and it captivated me from the first moment to the last page. The fast-paced plot is very well written and told from a single FOV, the locations are exceptionally well researched with lots of historical tidbits and it was fun to mentally participate in the hunt. The story also has LOL moments, touching scenes, some twists and turns, adventure, introspection and self-discovery. I fell in love with the character of Dan. It was heartwarming to see his character develop over the course of the book and how he faced and overcame his biggest fears.

Dan is an 18 year old introverted nerd who lives a simple life in modest circumstances. He studies, works a monotonous, low-paid part-time job to support his invalid mother, who he cares for in his spare time, and spends the rest of his free time reading, playing and collecting D&D. Dan has many phobias and no social contacts, apart from his two lifelong friends, siblings Adam and Jamie, who are currently touring through Europe.
When Jamie unexpectedly turns up on his doorstep and invites him to join her and her brother on a scavenger hunt through Vienna to win a huge prize, Dan is horrified but reluctantly accepts, hoping to use his part of the prize money to pay for new and expensive treatment for his mother.
This is the beginning of his journey full of adventures, action, experiences, new contacts and self-reflection. Dan begins to realise that he can overcome all obstacles and his greatest fears if his goal is important enough...

If you like gripping stories with lots of action, adventure, interesting historical tidbits about Vienna and great character development, you're sure to enjoy this book! I'm definitely looking forward to the next instalment in the new series.

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

[Nathan Strik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's start with my conclusion: Hunting Vienna is a solid debut, by a promising writer.

There, we've got that out of the way. On to what I liked and what I didn't care for. Of course, I've given this book 4 out of 5 stars, so my likes far outweigh my dislikes. I think the setting is extremely well setup. I didn't have Vienna very high near the top of my 'places I want to visit one day' list, but this book made me very curious. You can tell this was written by a writer who loves this city. Rule number 1 may be 'write what you know', but I think 'write what you love' is way more important.

Also, the proze is very good. Edina has a witty and very descriptive pen, and the story just reads like an urban adventure story should: nice and quick, without getting bogged down. Sure, I could have done with a little less pop culture references, which can really date a book, given a few years... but it honestly didn't bother me that much.

On to the characters. While there were some moments where some of them really got on my nerves, overall they are fun and make me want to keep turning the pages, to find out how the interactions between these characters, and the city they 'Hunt' in will play out.

The plot was at times a tad predictable, but when it's this well written, and just plain fun to read, I think that's a minor critique. Overall, the story gripped me because of the combination of the setting, the fun characters and the inherent tempo that these kinds of stories usually have.

So a well-deserved 4 stars I think. And a great way to start off a writing career. I will certainly keep a close eye on more books by Iasmina Edina. Because, like the story of Dan and his fellow 'Hunters', I have a feeling this journey will take us readers to some awesome places.

Highly recommended!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this book four stars, with a caveat. The caveat is that I only really give 5 star reviews to books I consider life-changing reads, that really affect me profoundly and change how I approach life or think about the world. As someone in his early 30's I'm not the target audience for this book, and that fact combined with my method of star-ratings meant there was always going to be a limit on the number of stars I assigned.

That said, I think the target audience for this book will thoroughly enjoy it! There's a great spread of quirky, engaging characters in it. The dialogue is snappy and lively. Though I prefer less quippy dialogue, I think the right people will find it charming. The book starts out engaging, and though it drags a bit in the middle, it comes together in a good ending. The ending has some unexpected twists and is emotionally resonant as well.

One of the best things about it is how much the author makes the city of Vienna feel like an embodied place, a character in it's own right. If you like to travel it will definitely activate your wanderlust. I love all the details and historical tidbits.

I do think there's some pacing issues as well as some plot threads that I feel like aren't done justice by the time the novel ends. But I understand this is a first book in a series. I look forward to seeing how the author improves her craft in future writing.

All in all, an enjoyable mystery with intriguing characters that genre fans will like.

I received a free ARC of this book, and the opinions here are my own.

[Tom Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
This is my first ARC book and I really enjoyed it.

We follow Dan and his friends competing in The Hunt in Vienna where they have to find clues in order to reach the finish line and win the cash prize. Dan is competing to try and win some money to help his sick mother. With the help of his friends, Adam and Jamie, they go through ups and downs as they share many tears and laughs along the way.

I enjoyed the theme of found family, where Dan saw Adam and Jamie as siblings rather than friends. Also, I think that the core of this book is about family and friendship and people who you meet on the way, which is nicely set behind the backdrop of Vienna.

I would have to say that my only issue with the book was the pacing around the middle of the book and with some of the challenges. But, I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family.

This is the first book in the series and I'm excited to see what other books come from this author.

I received a free ARC of this book and all opinions held here are my own.

[Alessandra Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who, like me, loves traveling, discovering new landmarks, breathing the unique atmosphere of historical sites, all mixed in with the thrills of a quest and some good laugh-out-loud humor, this is a must read!
Part scavenger hunt with clues and riddles in perfect Dan Brown style, part slice of life and travel adventure reminiscent of a John Green novel, Hunting Vienna is a poignant description of the majestic titular capital city and a romp that will keep you constantly entertained, with characters you’re unlikely to forget. Hopefully, we’ll soon get a second installment in this exciting Urban Hunt series!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

A good read. The characters are generally fun, with genuine real-world issues. If you’re not good with cursing, this might not be for you. I loved the history of Vienna that was very well interwoven throughout the book, although the ending of the race was slightly implausible.

[Felix Gravila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Hunting Vienna from start to finish. Granted, I’m biased because I know the author, but this book really hit all the right notes for me.

The story centers around Dan, a socially anxious young adult, who finds himself swept up in a city-wide scavenger hunt through the historical streets of Vienna with his best friends in the world. The stakes quickly turn the hunt into an adventure filled with tension, humor, and heartfelt moments.

The characters are the kind of quirky people you'd feel comfortable hanging out with. They’re young and worried in ways that feel very relatable, the kind of people you want to hug and tell, "It'll all work out in the end, enjoy it." The banter doesn't feel forced, and the pop culture references actually land because you can tell the author is a genuine geek herself, not just ticking off a list of references.

I found the scenes to be so beautifully written that you feel like you're effortlessly following Dan, walking through Vienna’s landmarks or experiencing the quiet, heartfelt moments. The book balances its heavier emotional beats with laugh-out-loud moments, making those feelings hit even harder. The pacing feels spot on, turning it into a real page-turner. There’s a lot of well-researched detail about Vienna's history and culture, but it never feels overwhelming, just enough to give you a very real sense of place without bogging you down in minutiae.

Finally, I really enjoyed how effortlessly the book can switch from funny to sad, heartwarming, and even a little filthy. It never feels out of place, and that mix of emotions makes the story all the more engaging. The themes of self-discovery, mental health, and friendship are handled with care, wrapped up in a genuinely fun Bildungsroman.

I definitely found Hunting Vienna to be a fantastic read, whether you're into scavenger hunts or just a feel-good coming-of-age adventure with a lot of heart and attention to detail. I might be a little biased, but I'd say it’s well worth the roll of the dice.

[Iasmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is pretty neat, but I might be slightly biased.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a ARC free from Book Sirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
Well written.
Fast paced.
Quirky characters.